Summary & Overview
CPT 69714: Bone‑Anchored Skull Implant for Auditory Sound Transmission
CPT code 69714 identifies the surgical implantation of a bone‑anchored cranial device that transmits sound energy to the inner ear via a percutaneous coupling to an external speech processor. This procedure represents a specialized otologic implant for patients with specific conductive or mixed hearing loss or single‑sided deafness who are candidates for bone‑anchored hearing systems. Nationally, the code matters because it captures a distinct surgical implant service with implications for surgical setting, device coverage, and durable medical equipment coordination.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise clinical context for the procedure, typical sites of service, and what to expect in payer coverage frameworks. The publication outlines benchmark elements, coding considerations tied to surgical implantation, and policy or coverage update summaries where available. Clinical context clarifies the role of the implant in converting sound energy for inner ear reception and the percutaneous coupling to a speech processor.
This summary is intended as a national overview for clinicians, billing professionals, and policy analysts seeking a clear description of CPT code 69714, its clinical use, and payer landscape. Data not available in the input is noted where applicable in supporting sections.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 69714 describes the surgical implantation of a bone-anchored device into the skull that converts sound energy for reception by the inner ear. The implant is anchored in the cranial bone and is designed to couple percutaneously to an external speech processor through a small opening in the skin.
-
Service type: Implantation of a bone-anchored auditory device (surgical implant procedure)
-
Typical site of service: Operating room or ambulatory surgical center, with preoperative and postoperative clinic visits as clinically indicated.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A typical patient is an adult with conductive or mixed hearing loss who is not helped by conventional hearing aids due to chronic external ear canal problems, microtia/aural atresia, or recurrent chronic otitis externa. The workflow begins with otologic evaluation including audiometry and CT imaging to confirm candidacy for a percutaneous bone-anchored implant. Preoperative steps include medical clearance, informed consent, and marking the implant site on the temporal bone. On the day of surgery in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital operating room, the surgeon performs local and/or general anesthesia, creates a small skin incision and drill hole in the skull, and places the titanium osseointegrated implant percutaneously so that a speech processor attaches through the skin. Postoperative care includes wound care instructions, antibiotic prophylaxis as indicated, activation of the abutment and fitting of the external sound processor after osseointegration (typically weeks later), and routine audiology follow-up for mapping and outcome assessment.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
11 | Normal or main surgical procedure | When this implantation is the primary service performed during the operative session |
22 |